Inhalator



Dec. 26, 1939. MYR 2,184,679

INHALATOB Fi led March 22, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 @Uezz 701*. George H Wylie/6 Dec. 26, 1939. e. H. MYRICK 5 INHALATOR Filed March 22, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 v M M /M a Dec. 26, 1939. MYRlcK 2,184,679

INHALATOR Filed March 22, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT orrica Y INHALATOR George H. Myrick, Rochester, Minn.

Application March22, 1937, Serial No. 132,232

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to inhalators or Vaporizers used in the treatment of respiratory ailments and while described in connection with the electrically heated, large capacity inhalator,

;- it is applicable to inhalators generally.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved inhalator capable of delivering an adequate supply of properly moistened air to a patient.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved inhalator adapted thoroughly to mix a large amount of air with the,

steam and generate sufficient pressure to carry air to a patient.

A further object of the invention is to provide an inhalator capable of delivering a mixture of air and steam ata considerable distance from the inhalator at a temperature that is not dan gerous to the patient. I

A still further object of the invention is to provide a delivery nozzle adapted-to be'connected to the inhalator, so constructed and. arranged that.

In the course of this description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side plan view, partially I in section, of the inhalator illustrated in Fig. 1; r

Fig. 3 is a transverse cross-section view taken the mixture a considerable distance through the Fig. 1 is a side plan view of an inhalator made Fig. '7 is a transverse cross-section view, taken on the line l'l of Fig. 6, showing the manner in which the heating elements are secured to the under side of the base; and

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic representation of the heating circuit used with the inhalator illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7.

The inhalator illustrated in Fig. 1 is of a relatively large size, adapted particularly for use in hospitals and similar institutions. It comprises container indicated generally by reference numeral l2, formed of an integral inverted cupiaped base Hi and a substantially hemispherical top it. Extending through the top is a relatively large diameter tube E8 terminating in an integral reduced extension 28, to the end of which is mounted a flexible discharge conduit 22. The conduit 22 is of usual construction and is designed so that it may be bent to a limiting position in which the outer end of the tube is substantially horizontal, as indicated in both Figs. 1 and-2.

A discharge nozzle 24 so constructed and arranged that the mixture of vapor and air discharged therethrough is directed downward and the escape of condensate therethrough prevented is secured to the outer end of the discharge conduit 22. The construction of the nozzle is described in detail hereinafter.

The inhalator is provided with a handle 25 secured at one end to the container top It by a racket 28 secured to the top and at the other end to tube l8 by a ring 3!} surrounding the tube V and secured to the handle by suitable securing means, such as bolts and nuts 32. The container is adapted to be supplied with a vaporizable medium, usually water, through a tubular extension li t secured in suitable manner to the top iii and provided with a removable lid 3'6.

Visual indication of a fall in water level below a predetermined point within the container is provided by an alarm comprising a relatively small diameter tube .38 extending outside the container and having a small opening l!) near its upperend. 'From Fig. 2 it may be seen that the lower end 42 of the tube is made with a larger diameter and extends to a predetermined distance from the bottom When the water level falls below the end of the tube, the steam escapes to the atmosphere through the opening 10, there-, by giving a visual indication that the supply oi water should be replenished.

To prevent the escape of water along with the steam that escapes through the alarm, the lower end 42 thereof is provided with a plurality of oppositely disposed and vertically aligned baffles 44 and 4G. The baffles slope downward and to one side, as may be seen from Fig. 2 and are of a size such that the adjacent ends thereof overlap slightly, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The overlapping construction provides a tortuous path for the escaping steam and the double slope of the baflles tends to force the condensate to flow down one side of the tube while the steam flows up the other.

The integral base I4 is preferably stamped from relatively thin metal and is provided with a pair of annular concentric shoulders 50 and 52 and an annular substantially U-shaped channel 53 providing supports for the tube I8, top I6 and heating elements 56 and 51, respectively. The heating elements project into the container to a level approximately the same as the lower end of tube 22 and are secured to the bottom part of the annular channel 54 by nuts 58. The described construction of the base increases the capacity of the container and reduces the volume of water remaining therein when the end of tube 42 is unobstructed so that steam may escape theretnrough.

The heating elements 56 and 51 are preferably constructed with different heating capacities so that the amount of steam generated may be controlled. Energy is supplied to the heating elements through a common conductor 60 and individual conductors 62 and 34 leading to elements 56 and 5?, respectively.

The supply of energy to and connection of heaters in the circuit are controlled by a switch 66 secured to one side of the base I4 and provided with a manually operable selector knob 88. Energy is supplied to the heating elements from any suitable source, not shown, by a conductor I0 leading from the source to the switch 6t. The heat generated by the heating elements is prevented from affecting any support on which the inhalator may be placed by a heat-insulating bottom ll suitably secured to the side walls of the base I4.

As previously stated, the shoulders 50 and 52 support the top It and the tube I8 of the inhalator. The lower part of the lateral side wall of top It engages the vertically extending portion of the outer shoulder 58 and rests against the horizontal portion thereof. The lower end of the tube I8 similarly engages the vertically extending portion of shoulder 52 and rests against the horizontal portion thereof. Both the top and tube are secured to the shoulders in water-tight fashion.

The water within the container flows freely into and out of the interior of tube 53 through a plurality of openings I2 provided near the lower end of the tube for a purpose that is described fully hereinafter. 1

The steam generated in the upper part of the container is led to the flexible discharge conduit 22 through a relatively small diameter outlet tube I4 having its lower end I6 sealed to an opening I8 provided in the tube It just below the upper part of top 35. The upper end of tube I4 is provided with a reduced nozzle-defining portion and is supported concentrically with respect to tube I8 by an annular disc 82 provided with a series of perforations 84, as may be clearly seen in Fig. 3.

A large supply of air for mixture with steam discharged through the outlet tube I4 is supplied through a plurality of openings 86 surrounding and located just below the nozzledefining portion 86 of the outlet tube. These openings are formed in the conical portion 88 connecting the tube It and the previously mentioned integral reduced extension 26 and are sealed from the steam-containing part of the container. As the steam is discharged from the outlet tube air is drawn through the openings 36 by the injector principle and thoroughly mixed with the steam as they fiow through the discharge conduit 22.

The discharge conduit 22 is removably mounted in the reduced extension 20 by means of a fitting 90 secured to the conduit and insertable into the extension.

The construction of the previously mentioned nozzle 25 is illustrated in Fig, 2, where it is seen to comprise a relatively large diameter tubular portion 94 secured to the end of the flexible tube, intermediate portion 96 of tubular section having a substantially triangular form in elevation, and a tip 98 comprising a tubular portion, the diameter of which decreases with the length thereof. It may be seen from the last mentioned figure that the mixture of steam and air flowing through the flexible conduit 22 to the discharge nozzle 24 is discharged through the tip of the latter in a downward direction. The construction of the tip 98, with the diameter gradually decreasing with its length, provides an upwardly extending projection which prevents the escape of condensate with the steam. Condensate collected in the nozzle is returned to the container through the flexible tube 22 and tube I8, the condensate flowing into the tube i8 through the openings v84 in the annular disc 82 supporting the upper end of the outlet tube '14.

The electrical circuit and control switch for the heating elements are illustrated diagrammatically by the solid lines of Fig. 5. From this figure it is seen that the common conductor 60 is directly connected to one of the line conductors and that the opposite ends of the heating elements 56 and 51 are connected to the switch 66 by the conductors 62 and 54. The switch 66 comprises a movable contact member IJG movable from the off position in which it is illustrated, to low, medium, and high heat positions. The movable contact is connected by a conductor I02 to the other line terminal. Conductor 62 is connected directly to a fixed contact I04 and by conductor I05 to a second fixed contact I08. Conductor 64 is similarly connected to a first fixed contact I I9 and by conductor H2 to a second fixed contact II4.

With the switch in its indicated position, no energy is supplied to the heating elements. When the switch is moved to engage contact I I0, energy is supplied to the low capacity heating element 51. When the switch is moved to engage contact I08, the high capacity heating element 56 is supplied with energy, and when the switch is actuated to engage both contacts I84 and H4, the two heating elements are energized in parallel, thereby furnishing the greatest possible amount of heat.

The operation of the inhalator described above is the same no matter which of the heating positions the switch 63 is turned to, the only difference resulting from the operation of the switch to different positions being in the amount of steam generated.

Whenever it is desired to operate the inhalator, the container I2 is supplied with water to a level substantially as indicated in Fig. 2, and the switch 66 actuated to one of its on positions. Steam is generated in the upper part of the container 7 I2 and is directed through the outlet conduit "I4 and nozzle 80 into the flexible discharge conduit 22. The steam is discharged through nozzle 80 with considerable velocity and draws a large amount of air through the openings 88 for mixture therewith. The proximity of the openings 86 to the nozzle ii!) insures a large quantity of air for mixture with the steam. Accordingly, the heating elements 56 and 5! may be made quite large in order to generate considerable steam within the container. Naturally, the generated steam is at a considerable pressure and high temperature, but the arrangement described provides suflicient air for mixture with the steam so that the temperature of the resulting mixture is decreased to a value that is not dangerous to patients.

The above described construction of nozzle 24 with the tip 98 directed downwardly and the end of the tip extending upward, directs the mixture of air and steam downward and also prevents the escape of condensate formed in conduit 22. The condensate is returned to the container through the tube I8 and the openings 84 provided inthe annular disc 82 supporting the upper end of outlet tube 14. Because of the free passage of liquid from the container into and out oi. tube I8, the condensate is returned to the main body of water.

In operation, the water level inside of tube i8 is somewhat higher than the water leveivin the container proper, for the reason that the pressure generated in the container is sufficient to force some water through openings 12 into the interior of. tube I8 and thereby raise the lev 'el of water therein. As the water is evaporated, the water level in both the tube and container gradually falls until it reaches the bottom of tube 42, at which time the steam will escape through the opening 40 at the upper end of the alarm tube 38, thus providing a visual indication of the water level. The discharge of water with this steam through the indicator tube is prevented, as described above, by the ba'liles 44 and 46 placed in the enlarged portion 42 of the alarm tube.

From the above description of the construction and the operation, it may be seen that the inhalator may be constructed with a large capacity and that the inhalator is not likely to be clogged by the deposit of foreign materials inside thereof.

The construction of the modified form of inhalator illustrated in Fig. 7, is substantially the same as that shown in the previously described figures, with the exception, in substance. that the base has been changed to accommodate a different type of heating element and the reduced integral extension formed at the end of tube I8 has been replaced by a separate small diameter tube suitably secured in relation thereto. A different type of flexible discharge tube is also illustrated.

In'the description of the modified construction, the unchanged portions are denoted by reference numerals used previously.

The base I20 is made of a bronze casting and is provided with a pair of concentric shoulders I22 and I24 adapted to support the top It and tube I8, respectively. A pair of flat heating elements I26 and I28 are supportedbeneath the bottom of the base by a pair of plates l3!) spaced from the heating elements by insulating members I32 and held in place by a plurality of screws I34 extending into upstanding bosses E36 formed on the upper side of the base I20. The supporting plates I30 are provided with downwardly extending lugs I38 forming supports for the terminals I42 of the heating elements. The terminals are insulated from the lugs by insulating washers I44.

The alarm device of the previously described modification has been replaced by a thermal cutout 546 suitably secured to the bottom of the base and provided with terminals I48 and I56 adapted to be placed in circuit to cut out the supply of energy to the heating elements whenever the supply of water within the container has been exhausted. The circuit connections are not illustrated in detail in Fig. 6, but are shown in Fig. 8 from which it can be seen that the thermal cut-out I46 has been interposed in the common conductor it between the source of supply and the heating elements I26 and I28 which have been substituted for elements 56 and 51 of the previously described modification.

The integral nozzle 8i formed on the end of the small diameter outlet tube M has been resecured to the end of tube 14. Likewise, the integral conical portion 3i? and reduced extension 29 of the previously described modification have been replaced by a connecting sleeve I54 and tube I56. The sleeve is provided with openings placed by a small diameter nozzle iEiiZ suitably H8, corresponding to openings 83, which, like the latter, are located slightly below the nozzle 52.

Secured to the tube W4 is a flexible discharge conduit E53 corresponding to the flexible conduit 22, but provided with an outer covering of fabric in order that it may be handled Without danger of injury. The conduit I58 is connected to tube I55 by a sleeve Hi5] adapted to slidabiy fit into tube I54.

The operation of the inhalator just described is substantially the same as that of the modification first described. The inhalator is supplied with a suitable amount of water and knob 68 of the switch 55 turned to a desired position.

The heating element or elements, depending on the selection made, are then supplied with energy through a circuit including the termal cut-out I46. If the water sup-ply is exhausted before the switch is turned to its off position, the thermal cut-out is heated and operated to break the heating circuit. The danger a: burning out the heating elements is thus eliminated.

The generation and discharge of steam from the inhalator of modified form is the same as that previously described and, therefore, it is not believed necessary to repeat it.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described in detail above, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to I the details described, but that the scope thereof is defined in the following claims.

I claim: 1. In a device of the character described, the

combination including, a container adapted to combination including, a container adapted to contain a supply of vaporizable medium, means for heating the medium in said container, a tube extending from the bottom of said container through the top thereof, means permitting free passage of the medium from the container into the tube near the bottom of the container, and means including an opening in said tube inside of and near the top of said container, a small diameter tube extending upward in said first mentioned tube from said opening, and a plurality of openings in said first mentioned tube outside said container and near the upper end of the second tube for discharging a mixture of vapor and air through said first mentioned tube.

3. An inhalator including, in combination, a container adapted to contain. a supply of vaporizable medium, means for heating the medium in said container, a tube extending from the bottom of said container through the top thereof, a flexible tubular discharge conduit mounted on the upper end of said tube, means permitting free passage of the medium from the container into the tube near the bottom of the container, and means including an opening in said tube near the top of and within said containen, a small diameter tube extending upward from said opening in said first mentioned tube, and a plurality of openings to the atmosphere near the end of said small diameter tube for discharging a mixture of air through said discharge conduit, said first mentioned tube providing means for draining the condensate formed in said discharge conduit into said container.

4. An inhalator including, in combination, a container adapted to contain a supply of vaporizable medium, means for heating the medium in said container, a relatively large diameter tube extending from the bottom of said container through the top thereof, a flexible tubular discharge conduit mounted on the upper end of said tube, means permitting free passage of the medium from the container into the tube near the bottom of the container, an opening in said tube near the top of and within said container, a small diameter tube extending upward from said opening in said first mentioned tube, said tube being secured to the first mentioned tube at its lower end to seal the latter tube from the interior of said container, an: annular perforated disc secured to said first mentioned tube for supporting the upper end of said small diameter tube, and a plurality of openings to the atmosphere near the end of said small diameter tube for supplying air for mixture with the vapor as the latter is discharged into said discharge conduit through the small diameter tube, said large diameter tube and perforated disc providing means for draining condensate formed in said discharge conduit into said container.

5. An inhalator including, in combination, a container adapted to contain a supply of vaporizable medium, means for generating vapor in said container, a flexible conduit adapted to be curved to a limiting position in which its outer end is substantially horizontal in communication with the vapor-containing part of the container, and a nozzle mounted at the end of said conduit adapted to direct the vapor downward and prevent escape of condensate.

6. An inhalator including, in combination. a container adapted to contain a supply of vaporizable medium, means for generating vapor in said container, and means including a relatively large diameter flexible conduit adapted to be curved to a limiting position in which its outer end is substantially horizontal, and a nozzle secured thereto for discharging the generated vapor, said nozzle having a relatively large diameter portion adapted to be secured in communicating relationship with said conduit, an intermediate portion of tubular section having a substantially triangular form in elevation and an end portion the diameter of which decreases with the length thereof for directing the vapor downward and preventing escape of condensate formed in said conduit and nozzle.

7. A nozzle for use with an inhalator comprising a relatively large diameter tube adapted to be secured in communicating relationship with the inhalator, having an intermediate portion of a tubular section having a substantially triangular form in elevation and an end portion the diameter of which decreases with the length thereof.

8. In a device of the character described the combination including, an integral base structure provided with a pair of concentric shoulders, a top having the lower part of its side walls in engagement with and supported by the outer shoulder, said base and top forming a container adapted to contain a supply of vaporizable medium, means including heating elements supported beneath said base by plates located below said elements and secured to said base for heating said medium, a tube in engagement with and supported by the inner shoulder, said tube extending outside said top through a central opening in the latter and secured thereto in air-tight manner, means permitting free passage of liquid between the container and the inside of said tube, and means including an opening in said tube near the upper part of and below said top, a small diameter tube extending upward in said first mentioned tube from said opening, and a plurality of openings in said first mentioned tube outside said top and near the upper end of the second mentioned tube for discharging a mixture of vapor and air through said first mentioned tube.

9. In an inhalator the combination including, a container adapted to contain a supply of vaporizable medium, means for heating the medium in said container, a tube extending from below the level of said medium in said container through the top thereof, means permitting free passage of the medium between said tube and container, and means for discharging a mixture of vapor and air through said tube including a small diameter tube providing an outlet for the vaporized medium from within the container into said first-mentioned tube and an air inlet in said first-mentioned tube outside said container and near the upper end of said second-mentioned tube.

10. In an inhalator, the combination including liquid containing means divided into two portions of unequal size, means for heating the medium in the larger of said portions, a relatively large diameter discharge conduit, a small diameter tube providing an outlet for vapor from said larger portion into said discharge conduit, means for supplying air to said conduit adjacent the upper end of said small diameter tube for mixture with the vapor, and means for returning condensate formed in said discharge conduit to the smaller of said portions.

11. In an inhalator the combination including means defining two separate spaces for holding vaporizable medium, means permitting free cometer conduit located externally of both said spaces for supplying air to said conduit adjacent the upper end of said smaller diameter tube for mixture with the vapor, and means for returning condensate formed in said discharge conduit 6 to the second of said two spaces.

GEORGE H. MYRICK. 

